Ice-rescue device



H. E. HODGSON ICE RESCUE DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jqly 17,- 1928.

Filed March 2, 1926 1. g lwgflron Arm Er July 17, 1928.

H. E. HODGSON Ica anscun nnvzcs Filed. larch 1926 ATTORNEY Patented July17, 1928.

UNITED STATES HARRinTTE ENsLnY noneson, or new Yank, a. Y.

Ion-RESCUE DEVICE.

Application nieanarch 2, 192's. Serial m. 91,662.

The purpose of this invention is'to provide a simple and efl'ectivemeans for rescuing persons who have fallen through the ice. Many sadaccidents occur every skating season, because, though there maybe thoseat hand to help, there is no readily available andsuitableinstrunicntality for effecting rescue. The subject of the invention is alarge-diameter wheel or frame of adequate strength but light enough tobe quickly rolled, slid orcarried 'to the break in the ice, the framebeing adap'tedto bridge the break and affording a central manholethrough which the person in the water can clamber or in which he maysupport himself. The frameis likewise provided 'at various points withcables, which can be held by rescuers at a distance from the hole so asto relieve the strain upon the weak ice or to support and draw to safetythe imperiled person in case the ice. around the frame shouldbreakthrough, one or more of the cables being provided with a missile so thatthe ends of these cables can be thrown to a considerable distance ortothe bank of the pond or stream if necessary. In some instances theframe may be provided with folding extension members to increase thespread of the device over the ice.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of the invention, one of. the cablesbeing shown coiled up and lightly tied to the frame, while the othersare shown extended and broken away, the end of one of the cablescarrying a missile being seen;

Fig. 2 is a central cross-section through this form of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of another form;

Fig. 4 is a View of this form, partly in edge elevation and partly incross-section;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of still another form having folded extensionpieces, the folded positions of these pieces being shown in broken linesand the extended positions in full lines, the intermediate portion ofthe members in this position being broken out for economy of space;

Fig. 6 is an edge elevation of Fig. 5, with the extension membersfolded; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through Fig. 6.

The device of Figs. 1 and 2 comprises an outer ring 2 of large diameter,an inner ring 3 of manhole size, and an openwork 4 connecting the rings.The rings 2 and 3 are comparatively light and strong, and may he madewith advantage of aluminum tubing, for example, though other suitablematerials and forms may be employed, The frame has a wide spread, so asto be eifectivc in bridging breaks and holes in the ice, and may be madein different sizes ranging from about six feet to about nine feet, moreor less. here the device is to be kept in a boat-house or the like, itsdiameter should be such as to pass through the doommycf such astructure. The light but strong openwork i, oftension elements,connecting the inner and outer rings may bem'ade of a sufliciently stoutwire mesh or of wires arranged like the spokcsof a wire wheel,orthey'may even be of n'iaterials other than wire, the elements of theopemvork being imited to the rings by welding, solderingor byappropriate mechanical connections.

At intervals about its circuit, the outer ring provided with'suitz'ibleattaclii'n'ents 5 for the connection of lengths of light, strong rope or"wire cable 6, these cables being long enough toextend to a considerabledistance from the frame or even one or more of them to a fairly distantshore. For such purpose one or more of the cables may be provided at itsend with a suitable weight 7. WVhen not in use, the cables will besuitably coiled and lashed to the frame or its openwork by light lacingsor ties.

In case of an accident the frame can be .quickly carried, rolled ordragged to the opening in the ice, where the manhole ring 3 will beplaced over the head of the person in the water, the ring 2- resting onthe ice. The cable 6 can be quickly uncoiled and held by a number ofrescuers standing at different sides some distance back from the hole.In special emergency, the ends of one or more of the cables may bethrown to greater distances. Also, one or more of the cables may beunlashed at the bank and their ends be left to trail or in the hands ofrear guard rescuers while the frame itself is rushed out to thedanger-point. Arrived at the hole, the frame may be innnediately placedover the head and shoulders of the person in the person in the waterclimbs through the manhole ring and crawls over the bridge afforded bythe frame to safety. If he should be unable to do this, he may simplypass his head and arms through the central ring, and while thus clingingbe drawn to solid ice by the rescuers at one side of the opening pullingin on the cables while those at the opposite side pay out the cableswhich they are hold ing.

As an additional advantage the frame may be provided with sufficientbuoyancy so that it will not tend to sink in water in case the break inthe ice should become badly enlarged. This can, of course, beaccomplished by utilizing wood as a material for the frame or by meansof floats suitably arranged so as not greatly to increase the bulk ofthe rescue device. The simplest float arrangement would be one asillustrated in Figs. 3 and l, in which the rings 2 and 3 would be hollowand sufficiently large in cross-section to enclose buoyancy chambers 8and 9. The buoyancy thus provided may be sutlicient not only to supportthe device itself in the water, but even also to support or partiallysupport the weight of aperson.

The circular form of the frame and its rings is deemed preferable, butif desired the frame may be of other forms and Figs. to 7 illustratesquare frames 2" and 3" connected by openwork 4 In order to increase thespan of the device, extension members or arms 10 may be riveted at 11at. the four corners of the outer frame so as either to fold compactlyagainst the outer sides of this frame or to be extended upwardtherefrmn. Naturally, it will be understood that the application ofsuitable folding extension members is not limited to a square orrectangular forn'l of frame, but may be used in connection with any ofthe frames.

Various other changes and modifications will suggest themselves to theskilled mechanic.

hat I claim as new is:

1. Au appliance to save persons who have fallen through the ice,comprising a; strong, portable, open frame of substantially equallylarge diameter in two dinunsions adapted to be placed as a bridgingsupport over a hole in the ice and affording a central manhole throughwhich the person may escape, and cables attached to various portions ofthe frame to be held by persons on the ice or shore.

2. An appliance to save persons who have fallen through the ice,comprising a strong,

portable, open frame of substantially equally large diameter in twodimensions adapted to be placed as a bridging support over a hole in theice and affording a central manhole through which the person may escapmand a, cable attached to the frame and provided with a missile.

HARRIETTE ENsLEY HoDGsoN.

